Urgent Care Centres Hillingdon 2025-09-10

Opened the debate

This Adjournment debate is on the future of the minor injuries unit at Mount Vernon hospital. The loss of this unit runs contrary to the 10-year plan set out by the government. More than 20,000 people have signed a petition expressing concern about the closure and calling for reconsideration. The unit is valued by local residents for its accessibility and efficiency in treating minor injuries without overwhelming A&E departments. Schools also rely on it to treat children injured during school hours. Closure would exacerbate pressures on A&Es, particularly given the unique challenges faced by Hillingdon hospital due to Heathrow airport’s transient population and high numbers of asylum seekers and those in immigration detention. The unit’s closure could lead to higher costs per visit and increased use of more expensive A&E services.

Government Response

Minister's response not provided in the given text The Minister acknowledges the concerns raised by MPs from Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Hertsmere, Beaconsfield, South West Hertfordshire, East Harrow, and Hayes and Harlington. She explains that the trust is planning to consolidate urgent care services at Hillingdon hospital site and believes it would be more efficient for urgent care services to be concentrated there. The Minister also mentions the roll-out of primary care hubs in Hillingdon as part of the 10-year plan. She confirms a meeting with the integrated care board, local authority, and trust on Friday where further consultation will take place. The Minister asserts that decisions affecting constituents should be made locally rather than from Whitehall, but she promises transparency through NHS performance data tools. We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This is what the 10-year long-term plan is based on—moving services from hospital into the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. We expect local NHS leaders to make this happen with local clinical leadership in the best interests of the populations they serve, and we expect open and transparent communications going forward. Local politicians have an important role in that, which Members present in the Chamber have demonstrated ably, and will continue to do so. I would be very happy to maintain contact with the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner regarding the wider implications of the issues he has raised, and I commit to writing back to him about the consideration that is being given to those wider implications. I note his concerns and am happy to continue working with him.